WATTS: New broker rules for Canadian fishing licenses

By
Tom Watts, The Macomb Daily

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Dan Chimelak, the colorful and outspoken owner of Lakeside Fishing Shop in St. Clair Shores who has the best local fishing report around, is upset with customs officials on how they are handling the way we fish.

“If you go to Canada to fish you have to call in first,” Chimelak said. “But our U.S. side of the border is where the big problem is.”

Chimelak’s has graciously gone to Canada each Wednesday during the season and sometimes twice a week to purchase Canadian fishing licenses in bulk for anglers who want to fish across the border from Lake St. Clair to the Detroit River to Lake Erie.

But something happened to Capt. Dan on his way to Canada. He must now employ a broker to retrieve his fishing licenses from Canada each week at the tune of $130 each trip, which equates to $260 a week when the demand is high.

“Been here 38 years and now they want me to pay a broker,” Chimelak said. “Custom officials say it’s a service we must now use.”

Of course, Lake St. Clair has always been the No. 1 smallmouth fishery in North America, while walleye, perch and muskie fishing is close behind. And thanks to recent articles hailing the bass fishery by folks like pro bass fisherman Kevin Van Dam from Kalamazoo and bass fishing magazines recognizing Lake St. Clair as the best bass fishery, anglers from all around the U.S. are coming to Michigan, and in particular to Macomb County and St. Clair Shores and Harrison Township to get into the action.

“I got guys coming from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, all over wondering why they need all these different licenses to fish – they need a passport or enhanced driver’s license to fish, and it’s hurting business” Chimelak said Wednesday. “Customs officials at Marine City are making it even more difficult for us to go fish. It’s fishing. It’s not national security.”

Chimelak said he now has to employ a broker who told him it will cost $130 each time they go over to purchase fishing licenses, and that’s the “cheapest deal around,” he said.

“Customs tells me you can get your fishing license on-line, but what you get is a piece of paper – not a real waterproof license,” Chimelak said. “They don’t want me to bring these Canadian licenses back across the border to the U.S. Instead they want you to present a piece of paper that when you fold up or if it gets wet you can’t read the numbers. Ever tried to bring a piece of paper out on the water, windy, raining, folded up? You can’t read the numbers. Fishermen do not want a piece of paper.”

Chimelak said he already pays $14 in tolls, the price of boat gas to Marine City and the price of a Canadian license; now add $130 broker fee, and it looks like his cost to do business will have to go up.

Chimelak has long been an outspoken opponent of Canada laws that are making it difficult for anglers to enjoy the simple pleasure of fishing on waters of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

Besides the price of a Michigan fishing license, anglers – and a majority like to fish on the Canada side – must pay $88 for a seasonal Canada license; $59 for an 8-day license; and $25 for a 1-day license.

“We’re not making money on this,” Chimelak said. “We got people coming from all across the country to fish here and if they don’t have a passport or enhanced license they’re not fishing. Now it’s costing me more to purchase these licenses. We’re fishermen. But if a guy wants a waterproof license it saves him $14 in tolls and gas costs, but now he needs a passport or raised license to get back in U.S. When’s it going to end?”

Governor Snyder signs bills protecting hunting, fishing rights

Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bills 288 and 289 into law this week. The bills allow the Natural Resources Commission to name game species, protect the rights to hunt and fish, and were supported by Michigan’s conservation community.

“These laws build on the excellent work that Michigan’s voters started in 1996 with Proposal G. We decided back then that wildlife management decisions should be made by experts based the best available science instead of emotions and misconceptions spread by out-of-state animal rights extremists,” said John Caretti, President of the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association “This is a great day for scientifically-based wildlife management in Michigan.”

SB 288 extends the Natural Resources Commission (NRC)’s authority and sound science mandate to naming animals to the game species list, while retaining the Legislature’s authority to do the same and its exclusive authority to remove game species. SB 288 also grants the NRC the exclusive authority to issue fisheries orders, which currently rests with the director of the Department of Natural Resources, and also provides free licenses to active-duty members of the military. SB 289 establishes the rights to hunt and fish in state law, and makes protection of those rights a purpose of the Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

“We thank Governor Snyder for continuing Michigan’s tradition of separating conservation from politics today,” said Erin McDonough, executive director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “These bills protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers, and ensure that wildlife management decisions are based on the recommendations of biologists, not out-of-state anti-hunters.”

Conservation groups said the bills are an extension of voter-approved Proposal G of 1996, which granted the NRC exclusive authority over game management and required it to use sound science in its wildlife management decisions.

“The out-of-state forces, like the Humane Society of the United States, had attempted to undercut the authority of biologists and professional wildlife managers with their elaborate campaign to prevent hunting in the state of Michigan,” said Safari Club International President John Whipple. “I am very proud of SCI’s Michigan Chapters for their continued efforts to advocate for hunting and conservation in their state.”

Youth Shotgun Skills & Safety Clinic at River Bends Park

The Macomb County chapter of Pheasants Forever will hold its 5th annual “Youth Shotgun Skills & Safety Clinic” from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday June 1 at the River Bends Park Trap Range. The clinic will focus on safe gun handling as well as actual one-on-one shooting instruction using thrown clay targets. Trap Range is located at River Bends Drive, east off Ryan, south of 22 Mile Road in Shelby Township.

The clinic is open to youths from ages 10-18. Included will be instruction on safe handling and operation of shotguns. After a thorough gun safety and operation lesson youths will be instructed one-on-one on the proper form, aiming, and firing of a shotgun at a thrown clay target. It’s anticipated that each youth will shoot at approximately 25 clay targets.

Participants should bring a shotgun of their choosing, preferably an open-choked gun in either 20-gauge or 12-gauge. For those without a shotgun, a limited number of 20-gauge guns will be available for use. Target shells will be provided, said Tom Hite of Pheasants Forever.

The cost of the clinic is $20 per shooter. This fee covers the cost of range fees, shells, clay targets, hearing & eye protection, gift hat, and instruction. A parent or guardian must remain present for the duration of the clinic. To register, contact Tim Hite – Pheasants Forever at (586) 914-8076 or Tjhite@msn.com. To learn more about Macomb County chapter, visit www.macomb-pheasants.org.

Just a reminderJoann Koch of the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association hauled in a 9.85 walleye on Sunday to win the biggest fish at the Rec Bowl Yacht Club Walleye Tournament. … Lake St. Clair Metropark will host “Morning in the Marsh Canoe” on Saturday, June 1 at 9 a.m. Boat Launch. Paddle through the marsh to the sounds of awakening birds and insects. Join an interpreter for an excursion in a 34-foot replica of a Voyageur canoe for this early morning outing. Fee is $4 per person. Preregistration required. Call (586) 463-4332. … A Youth and Adult Fly Fishing Class will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 8 at Firefighters Park in Troy. Cost is $30 per person. Call the Clinton River Watershed Council at (248) 601-0606 or visit www.crwc.org.